IJAM: Volume 28, No. 6 (2015)

Abstract. We explore generalized q-distributions - q-exponential and q-Weibull - as underlying models for firm size distributions. We analyze the empirical distributions of Brazilian and USA open share companies. Total Assets and Total Revenue are used as variables for firm size. Although earlier studies have concentrated on large values of the size variable, where typical power-law behavior is observed, here we analyze the short and long range behavior. Our results indicate that q-Weibull distribution produces the best log-likelihood estimate for the entire data set. However, we have verified that for asymptotic values the typical power-law behavior is best described by q-Weibull in Brazil, and by q-exponential in USA.